N&W 611 Restoration Thread

eshock · **Posted:** Tue Mar 31, 2015 5:22 pm

Okay... Here's your video:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10153182161500050

dinwitty · **Joined:** Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:18 pm **Posts:** 2226

Film at 11.....

seconds later.....

I think the oily rags was meant you can get rid of them in the firebox...ahem ack herm...errrm, uh....(looks the other way....) -whistles-

j32885 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 02, 2015 9:58 pm

ITS ALIVE! WOW! @_@

southern154 · **Joined:** Mon Jun 24, 2013 12:54 pm **Posts:** 320

Let me ask a question, there was said to be the need to rebuild the pilot truck, has that work commenced yet?

TimReynolds · **Joined:** Sat Aug 31, 2013 4:11 pm **Posts:** 287

southern154 wrote:

Let me ask a question, there was said to be the need to rebuild the pilot truck, has that work commenced yet?

Does Spencer have a drop table to help facilitate this? Could be a get her running and back to VMT with this work still on the shortlist to underscore the need for a properly appointed maintenance facility at VMT.

whodom · **Posted:** Thu Apr 09, 2015 1:07 pm

I haven't read any more about the lead truck. The boiler is being lagged this week. They posted photos of a commercial insulation company doing the work earlier this week on their Facebook page.

I'd guess jacket and paint come next.

TimReynolds · **Joined:** Sat Aug 31, 2013 4:11 pm **Posts:** 287

Hm... might make her birhtday afterall (5/1/1950 right?)

TimReynolds · **Joined:** Sat Aug 31, 2013 4:11 pm **Posts:** 287

5/29/1950 then I thinking she definately makes her Birthday in steam...:)

southern154 · **Joined:** Mon Jun 24, 2013 12:54 pm **Posts:** 320

Norfolk Southern just gave us rail fans a little riddle to solve. They posted on twitter that at 6:11am tomorrow morning that they will announce something that will make rail fans happy! I wonder what that might be??? ;) Let the foamers foam...

TimReynolds · **Joined:** Sat Aug 31, 2013 4:11 pm **Posts:** 287

Jeff Lisowski wrote:

Tech question;

I read elsewhere that the lagging is calcium silicate.

How is this material applied?

Others will chime in. Recalling re-lagging S&A 750 (like a million years ago - 1988) the material comes in 2x4 by 2 foot "blocks". On the barrel IIRC we went from the bottom around using chord strapping to hold them in place until the permanent steel straps were installed. you can see what looks like stainless steel strapping in the photo of the complete lagging on 611. We may have cheated with some sort of goop underneath until we got going up the sides. Now the firebox and backhead is one messy job. You cut and place block then fill in with a mud version. Once the mud dries things will stay put until you get the jacket on. Looks like the firebox side area on 611 is set up with a sheet metal pannel to sandwich the block upagainst the shell to hold it until the jacket goes on.

Dave · **Posted:** Wed Apr 15, 2015 11:34 pm

southern154 wrote:

Norfolk Southern just gave us rail fans a little riddle to solve. They posted on twitter that at 6:11am tomorrow morning that they will announce something that will make rail fans happy! I wonder what that might be??? ;) Let the foamers foam...

Unlike the Good Old Days, the air conditioning will work on all the cars this time around.

dave

dinwitty · **Joined:** Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:18 pm **Posts:** 2226

TimReynolds wrote:

Jeff Lisowski wrote:

Tech question;

I read elsewhere that the lagging is calcium silicate.

How is this material applied?

Others will chime in. Recalling re-lagging S&A 750 (like a million years ago - 1988) the material comes in 2x4 by 2 foot "blocks". On the barrel IIRC we went from the bottom around using chord strapping to hold them in place until the permanent steel straps were installed. you can see what looks like stainless steel strapping in the photo of the complete lagging on 611. We may have cheated with some sort of goop underneath until we got going up the sides. Now the firebox and backhead is one messy job. You cut and place block then fill in with a mud version. Once the mud dries things will stay put until you get the jacket on. Looks like the firebox side area on 611 is set up with a sheet metal pannel to sandwich the block upagainst the shell to hold it until the jacket goes on.

yeppers, same on 765, we had mudpie slapons goin on, don't wear your best suit... 8-D

dinwitty · **Joined:** Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:18 pm **Posts:** 2226

it seems like a lot of the parts were in fairly good condition considering you really didnt have to do a full makeover restoration like other steamers since it was an operable engine technically recently. Thats only a general comment, I am sure every device has been given it checkover. Lots of experience working behind this job is whats making it move. It still feels really fast to announce trips before good test runs, but I bet there's a lot of confidence in the workmanship to say that, do that, and guarantee it will be there for the trips. Rock on guys.

Rainier Rails · **Posted:** Fri May 01, 2015 11:58 pm

As posted to the 611 Facebook page, NS has repainted the auxiliary water car. Photo taken by Cheri George.

The water cars for the #611 and #1218 are ex-L&N fuel cars that were converted from Big Emma tenders, but does anybody know from which ones?

https://scontent-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/v/t1.0-9/s480x480/11114248_437760723065608_3173947950091969419_n.jpg?oh=302c66d25161c05476e52279f5e08be0&oe=55C67644

TimReynolds · **Joined:** Sat Aug 31, 2013 4:11 pm **Posts:** 287

Rainier Rails wrote:

The water cars for the #611 and #1218 are ex-L&N fuel cars that were converted from Big Emma tenders, but does anybody know from which ones?

Partial answer here in the post from John Craft
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=19363

and some more here
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=27908&p=162036&hilit=big+emma#p162036